Folding- bench



UNITED STATES PATENT OFICE.

TRISTRAM S. LEIVIS, OF KENDALLS MILLS, MAINE.

FOLDING BENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, TRISTRAM S. LEwIs, of Kendalls Mills, in the countyof Somerset and State of Maine, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Folding Benches; and I do hereby declare that the same isfully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, of which- Figure l, is a top View; Fig. 2, is abottom view; Fig. 3, a side elevation; Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectionand Fig. 5, a transverse section of a bench constructed with myinvention and in an unfolded or opened state. Fig. 6, exhibits a sideview of it, as folded for convenience of transportation or of beingpacked in a small compass.

In such drawings A, and B, denote two boards having hinge blocks a, b,applied to them, and so `as to project below their abutting ends asshown in the drawing. These blocks have hinges, c, CZ, screwed to themfor the purpose of connecting the two parts A, B, together and enablingone to be folded down upon the other as shown in Fig. 6. Two sets oflegs or supporters C, D, are also hinged respectively to the boards A,B, by hinges as shown at e, f, and so as to enable the legs either to beturned down llatwise, against the underside of the board, as shown inFig. 4, or turned out into right angles therewith as represented in theother iigures.

For the purpose of maintaining the legs in the positions last stated, aswell as to support the bench at its middle, and remove from the hingesc, cl, the strain of a weight laid on the bench, I employ in combinationwith the hinge blocks a, and the hinged legs C, D, a set of leg slidesE, F, and a confining wedge slide Gr. The leg slides 22,371, datedDecember 21, 1858.

enter and slide through the hinge blocks and alongsideof the wedgeslide, and at their outer ends they abut against the cross bars mi, m,of the legs as shown in the drawings each being connected with one ofthe said bars by a draft band 0, which is aflixed to the slide and tothe outer vertical edge of the said bar m, as shown in Fig. 4. Theconfining slide G, is not only placed within a groove p, made in thelower sides of the boards A, B, but passes through the hinge blocks andis made wedge shaped 0r tapering, so that when forced through the twoblocks, it shall fit tightly therein, and so press against the two legslides E, F, as to confine them in position and prevent them from beingmoved backward. It also crosses the oint between the two parts A, B, andby being driven into the two hinge blocks, receives the strain of aweight placed on the top of the bench and thus prevents such fromstraining or breaking the hinges.

A bench made to fold and having appliances as above described, willoften be found very convenient, particularly as a wash bench or as abench for a carpenter or other artisan.

I claim- The combination and arrangement of the hinge blocks a, the legslides E, F, and the conning slide G, as applied to the parts A, B, andtheir legs C, D, connected or hinged together so as to fold up in mannersubstantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

TRISTRAM S. LEI/VIS. lVitnesses:

ORIGEN MCFADDEN, F. A. I). KELLY.

